Roller mounting and brake



1964 D. FORMAN ETAL 3,

ROLLER MOUNTING AND BRAKE Filed Feb. 14, 1962 INVENTORS DAVID FORMAN BY HAROLD M. FORMAN ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,120,930 ROLLER MGUNTIN G AND BRAKE David Forman and Harold M. Forman, Philadelphia, Pa.,

assignors to For-matron, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Feb. 14, 1962, Ser. No. 173,203 8 Claims. (Cl. 242-754) This invention relates to roller mountings on which rolls of sheet materials, such as paper, cloth, plastic sheets, etc. are supported and from which they are unul/ound or dispensed by pulling on the loose end of the s .eet.

The invention is especially adapted to rolls of wrapping sheets on wrapping machines, but it is not so limited in use and is generally applicable to any device where a roll of sheet material is to be supported and dispensed.

An object of the invention is the provision of a device for supporting a roll of sheet material and for controlling the unwinding of the sheet from the roll to oppose the effects of backlash, overtravel and slack during the unwinding operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the type mentioned in which the control is effected by a braking device that is substantially automatic in operation.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the type mentioned in which the braking effect can be adjusted for varying conditions, such as different sizes and weights of rolls, drag, etc.

Still further objects include the provision of a device of the type mentioned which is reliable, yet inexpensive, easy to use, and adaptable to varying fields of use.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and explained hereinafter more fully from which still further objects, advantages and features of the invention will be apparent.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view and FIG. 2 a front elevational view of a roller mounting incorporating an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the line 33 of FIG. 1, the parts being in braked position.

FIG. 4 is a View similar to FIG. 4 with the parts in position released fro-m the braking action.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

Referring with more particularity to the drawing in which like numerals designate like parts, the embodiment is illustrated in connection with the upper section of a frame which may, typically, comprise the roll supporting structure of a wrapping machine, such as that shown in copending application Serial No. 93,424, filed March 6, 1961, now Patent No. 3,078,632.

The structure includes spaced upright posts 11 and 12 to which horizontal arms '13 and 14, respectively, are secured cantileverwise, the outer ends of the arms being connected by a cross bar 15.

Between the ends of the arms 13 and 14 there are secured, such as by welding, a pair of double yoke brackets 16 and 17, respectively, one bracket for each arm.

The corresponding yokes or slots 18 and 19 of these brackets are transversely aligned to support the ends of an axle 20 that carries a roll 21 of sheet material, such as of cellophane, Pliofilm, pap-er, cloth, etc.

The other corresponding yokes 22 and 23 of the brackets 16 and 17, respectively, are also aligned transversely and pivotally engage the inner ends of horizontal stub shafts 24 and 25 fixed to and projecting inwardly from the side members 26 and 27, respectively, of a rectangular teeter frame 28.

The teeter frame 23 comprises a crossbar 29 at the 3,129,930 Patented Feb. 11, 19-64 front end and a rod or roller bar 30 at the opposite end, each of which swings in an are beyond the outer ends of the arms 13 and 14.

The stub shafts 24 and 25 are each provided with counterweights for the teeter frame in the form of heavy bars 31 and 32, respectively. These bars are each frictionally pivoted at one end to one of the stub shafts to permit setting them in different angular positions thereon.

On one side of the roll 21 there is disposed a drum 33 having flanges 34 and 35 and an inner extension 36 which fits tightly on the inside diameter of the roll to rotate therewith. The inner extension 36 comprises a conventional form of spool or plug used to support rolls of the general type to mount them on rotatable shafts, such as player piano rolls, tape rolls, wax paper rolls, etc. A common type, widely used commercially, is manufactured by the Paper Core Plug 00., of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and it comprises a circular sleeve adapted to snugly fit inside a roll, such as the roll 21. The use of such paper core plugs per se forms no part of the invention, except in its combination as a conventional element with the other elements claimed, including the brake drum 33 attached to it. A brake band or strap 37 of canvas or other suitable material has one end 38 connected to the cross bar 15 and the other end 39 to the cross bar 29 of the teeter frame. The strap extends from one cross bar to the other in a loop about the drum 33, substantially as shown.

The connection of the ends of the strap to the cross bars or either of them may be made adjustable, such as by the use of a group of snap fasteners 46' as shown on the end 39 to adjust the effective length of the strap.

In operation, when a force is applied to the sheet ma terial to withdraw it from the roll, as depicted in FIG. 4, the rear end of the teeter frame moves down, while the front end moves up, thereby slacking the brake strap 37, as shown. When the force is released from the sheets, the counterweights 31 and 32 reverse the motion of the teeter frame by lowering the front end and raising the rear end, as shown in FIG. 3. This has the effect of tightening the brake strap against the drum 33 and slowing or arresting its rotation together with that of the roll 20. By adjusting the relative positions of the bars 31 and 32 on the shafts 24 and 25, the teeter frame can be made to swing back slower or faster, within limits, and the braking force of the brake strap on the drum is also modified thereby.

By these means, backlash and excessive unwinding during withdrawal, especially during intermittent Withdrawals, of sheet material from the roll is substantially obviated, thereby providing a positive tension, instead of uncontrolled slack, in the sheet material during such withdrawals in relation to the work being performed, such as in the wrapping of packages, etc.

Having thus described our invention, We claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a horizontal axle, means for supporting the axle in a stationary position, said axle being adapted to rotatably carry a roll of sheet material to be dispensed, a brake drum and means for removably attaching it coaxially to the roll of sheet material for corotation therewith independently of the axle, a movable member hingedly supported on said supporting means, said member having a stub shaft secured thereto in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the axle, a counterweight for said portion connected to the stub shaft, a portion of said member being adapted to revolve about the axle, a stationary member connected to said means and disposed between the axle and portion, a brake strap having one end attached to each of said members, said strap extending in a loop about said drum from one member to the other.

2. A device as defined by claim 1 in which the movabie member comprises a bar paraiiel to the axle adapted to revolve about the axle and to slidably receive sheet material being withdrawn from the roli.

3. A device as defined by claim 1 in which the counterwei t is adjustably secured to the stub shaft for disposition in different angular positions thereon.

4. A device as defined by claim 3 in which the counterweight is adiustabiy attached by frictional engagement with the stub shaft.

5. A device of the character described com ising a horizonta axie, a stationary frame for supper ing the axle in a stationary position, said axle being adapted to rotatably carry a roll of sheet material to be dispensed, a brake drum and means for removabiy attaching it coaxiall y to the roll of sheet material for corotatien therewith independently of the axie, a movable member hingedly supported on said stationary frame, said memher having a stub shaft secured thereto in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the axle, a counterweight for said portion connected to the stub shaft, a portion of said member being adapted to revolve about the axle, said frame comprising a stationary member between the axle and portion, a brake strap having, one end attached to each of said members, said strap extending in a loop about said drum from one of said members to the other.

6. A device of the character described comprising a stationary frame structure having a pair of spaced horizontal arms, a cross bar extending between said arms, a brake drum, means carried by said arms for rotatabiy supporting a unit comprising said drum emovably attached coaxially to a roll or sheet material, a teeter frame having frame members at the sides, front and rear, shafts secured to the side members for movement therewith, means carried by the said arms for pivotally supporting said shafts, a brake strap having one end connected to the stationary frame structure and its other end of the teeter frame, the intermediate portion of the strap extending in a loop from the stationary frame, about the rum, to a point on the teeter frame, and countcrweights connected to said shafts.

7. A device as defined by claim 6 in which the means for pivotaiiy supporting the shafts comp-rise yoi-ics in which the shafts are removabiy disposed and cradled.

8. A device as defined by claim 6 in which the stationary frame structure and the teeter frame each comprise transverse bars parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum to which bars the ends or" the strap are attached and in which the attachments are made so as to permit the strap to be repositioned transversely by sliding its ends along said bars. 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,333,862 MciCollum Mar. 16, 1920 1,462,604 Lavalle July 24, 1923 1,726,497 Morris Aug. 27, 1929 2,271,345 Repass Jan. 27, 1942 2,331,662 Delano Oct. 12, 1943 

1. A DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING A HORIZONTAL AXLE, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE AXLE IN A STATIONARY POSITION, SAID AXLE BEING ADAPTED TO ROTABLY CARRY A ROLL OF SHEET MATERIAL TO BE DISPENSED, A BRAKE DRUM AND MEANS FOR REMOVABLY ATTACHING IT COAXIALLY TO THE ROLL OF SHEET MATERIAL FOR COROTATION THEREWITH INDEPENDENTLY OF THE AXLE, A MOVABLE MEMBER HINGEDLY SUPPORTED ON SAID SUPPORTING MEANS, SAID MEMBER HAVING A STUB SHAFT SECURED THERETO IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE AXLE, A COUNTERWEIGHT FOR SAID PORTION CONNECTED TO THE STUB SHAFT, A PORTION OF SAID MEMBER BEING ADAPTED TO REVOLVE ABOUT THE AXLE, A STATIONARY MEMBER CONNECTED TO SAID MEANS AND DISPOSED BETWEEN THE AXLE AND PORTION, A BRAKE STAP HAVING ONE END ATTACHED TO EACH OF SAID MEMBERS, SAID STRAP EXTENDING IN A LOOP ABOUT SAID DRUM FROM ONE MEMBER TO THE OTHER. 